Lulu Group has stepped up preparations for the Onam season in the Gulf with a major fresh-produce export operation aimed at ensuring that Malayali expatriates can celebrate the festival with traditional Kerala food and ingredients.
As part of the initiative, a special cargo flight carrying around 45 tonnes of fruits, vegetables and other fresh produce, including banana leaves used for serving the traditional Onam sadya, departed from Cochin International Airport for the Gulf. The shipment is part of Lulu Group’s efforts to keep its GCC stores adequately stocked during the peak festive period.
A second dedicated cargo flight, carrying around 60 tonnes of fruits, vegetables and banana leaves, is scheduled to leave Kochi on August 20.
The wider export programme is significantly larger. Through its Lulu Exports division, the group plans to move more than 300 tonnes, or over 300,000 kilograms, of fruits and vegetables to Lulu Hypermarkets across the Gulf during the Onam season.
The scale of the operation reflects the strong seasonal demand for Kerala-origin produce among the large Malayali population in the GCC. Ingredients traditionally associated with Onam celebrations, particularly those required for preparing a full Kerala-style sadya, see a sharp rise in demand during the festival period.
Lulu Group Chairman M.A. Yusuff Ali had earlier indicated that measures would be taken to prevent shortages of essential products and food items for expatriate communities during Onam. The latest cargo movement forms part of those preparations, with Lulu stores across the GCC being stocked ahead of the festive season.
For Gulf-based Malayalis, Onam is closely associated with the flavours and traditions of Kerala, even thousands of kilometres away from home. Ensuring the availability of familiar fruits, vegetables and banana leaves allows retailers to meet that seasonal demand while also supporting the wider supply chain connecting Kerala’s agricultural produce with international markets.
The large-scale movement of fresh produce also highlights the growing role of organised retail and export networks in serving the Gulf’s Indian consumer base during major festival seasons. With Lulu’s GCC outlets preparing for increased Onam demand, the group’s logistics and sourcing operations are expected to play a key role in keeping traditional festive products available throughout the celebrations.
